An Interview with RSJ’s University and Career Counselling Team
My name is Yesenia Castelan. I am the University and Career Counsellor here at RSJ. I am essentially the head of the department and our department is called the University and Career Counseling Team. You often will hear us referred to as the UCC team but essentially our work here is to help students apply to universities but also prepare them for that journey ahead. Right now, all of our work goes into the year 12s and 13s preparing them more specifically for the applications but even before that we try to prepare students by understanding what their interests are relative to career and university pathways.
At what stage do pupils begin thinking seriously about university, and what are they typically feeling at that point?
In Year 11 pupils have the very important choice of choosing which three A Levels they will take. This is the first decision for them that will be extremely important in shaping their university choices, as what you can study at university will depend on what A Levels you take. The GCSE exams taken at the end of Year 11 will also be used in their university applications. It is common for students to be both excited and nervous about these choices: on the one hand, A Levels offer a chance to say goodbye to subjects that aren’t for them and focus on what they are really passionate about, but if you are someone who likes everything it can be a really difficult decision.
‘What should I take for A Level?’ is such a common question for this year group, as it links directly to what they want to study later. The choice of A Level is by no means the final opportunity for a pupil to decide what they want to study at university, but the choice of A Level subjects may point strongly towards one subject area or limit another.
Beyond grades, what qualities do leading global universities look for, and how does RSJ develop those qualities?
Grades are important for leading global universities, but on their own they are not sufficient. Universities such as Oxbridge really want to see that candidates have a genuine interest and dedication to studying their major, they want to see that the pupil has actively engaged with materials beyond the curriculum in their free time, and that they will be both teachable and capable of independent thinking. For prestigious universities in the US, the above is still true but with a broader holistic emphasis on the applicant as an individual: how they will contribute to the university community and how they will make use of all the opportunities available to them.
RSJ’s emphasis on ‘The Whole Person, The Whole Point’ prepares students well for these kinds of environments. As well as being offered the conditions in which to excel academically, RSJ students engage in a wide range of extracurricular activities that help them to develop into well-rounded, responsible and engaging young adults.
This might be learning how to articulate their ideas and speak confidently in debating, it might be developing the discipline and time management skills needed to balance a high academic workload with a passion for extracurricular drama, or it might be demonstrating responsibility and people skills by taking on a leadership role in their house.
Why should families feel confident that RSJ equips their child not only for university entry, but for life beyond it?
The Rugby Learner Profile aims specifically at developing students’ character in a holistic way, seeking to produce graduates who are enquiring, communicative, collaborative, globally-minded, versatile, reflective, and resilient. These goals are embedded into our curriculum and are a focal point in our extensive program of extracurricular activities and boarding house life.
When we speak to students in our individual meetings, we hear about all the different things that they are doing outside of their class hours, be it the school concert, the inter-house debating competition, mentoring younger students in house or starting a new extracurricular club.
If it was only to get into a good university, some of those things might not be strictly necessary – focusing on just one or two extracurricular activities and then spending all their time revising for A Levels might achieve the desired result. Many school and school pupils the world over adopt this kind of narrower approach. However, what is missing from a purely academic focus is the character development that will help students thrive once they get to university and when they embark upon their careers afterwards.
An RSJ graduate not only has a strong academic foundation, but will also enter university with a strong sense of themselves and a wide range of skills and experiences to draw on as they make the most of all the opportunities available to them. For many school pupils, self-discovery only really begins from university – in that respect, graduates of RSJ are already years ahead.
My name is Julia Follan and I’m a University and Careers Counselling Assistant here at RSJ. I work to support Yesenia in all the activities of the UCC office and then I have a couple of more specialised roles as well which are specifically applications to Oxford and Cambridge and applications to Japanese universities.
What makes international university applications particularly complex or daunting for families?
In international university applications, pupils and families can be really spoilt for choice. The diversity of available options increases the more countries that the family is open to, but that can increase the pressure to make the ‘right’ decision. At the same time, the university application process and course structure varies dramatically between countries.
In some places you must choose your major while you are still in high school, in others you can take a wider range of courses before specialising, the documents and application essays required vary, and the application deadlines may be spread out across several months. The country might be one where nobody in the family has ever studied before, so there is no base of ‘common knowledge’ to use for reference and advice.
The more well-known the university is, the more common it is for families to encounter a range of myths and misconceptions about the applications process, and it can be difficult to stay on top of trends in international university applications and acceptances. This means it is common for families to feel in the dark about the process. At Rugby School Japan we strive to change this narrative of international university admissions as opaque, and we work with families and pupils to demystify this process as much as possible.
How does RSJ guide pupils through this complexity in a structured and personalised way?
RSJ is almost unique as a British school with a dedicated University & Careers Counselling (UCC) department. The UCC team is focused solely on providing pupils with university and careers guidance, meaning that we have more time and resources to dedicate than teachers advising in a voluntary capacity.
We organise visits from university representatives for pupils starting from Year 10, and help with events such as A Level Options day to advise students thinking about their subject choices. From Year 12 pupils have weekly classes with us as part of their Enrichment program, where we guide them through the process of developing a balanced and realistic university applications list and the application processes for different countries.
All pupils in the Upper School are also able to book individual meetings with us to discuss their own specific questions, whether it is about what they want to study or how to apply to a specific country.
When pupils apply to universities, we advise them on developing their application essays, and arrange practice interviews for them if necessary. We also assist in coordinating the procedures for letters of recommendation, and making sure that teaching staff are aware of the expected content and format for different countries.
Additionally, we procure and produce application documents such as transcripts to align with the requirements of different university systems. We are with pupils every step of the way throughout their university application journey, to ensure that the process goes smoothly and that they can present the best version of themselves to every university they apply to.
